Life-preserver



(No Model.) J. CORLIN.

LIFE PRESERVER.

No. 462,892. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

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JOHN CORLIN, OF SPARTA, MICHIGAN.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,892, dated November 10, 1891.

Application led December l1J 1890. Serial No. 374,400. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, JOHN OORLIN, a citizen of the United States7 residing in the township of Sparta, county of Kent, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Life- Preserver, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in life-preservers; and it has for its obj eet to provide a preserver the buoyant power of which is confined within a sack so constructed as to allow the saine to be litted around the chest and back, and which, when inliated, buoys the person up and at the same time allows a free movement of the arms.

I/Vith these objects in view the invention consists in a flexible band composed of rubber cloth and provided with back and front communicating air bags orchambers and other details of construction herein pointed ont, illustrated in the drawings, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a life-preserver constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the Same on the line c :c of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings byletter1 A designates a flexible body-band adapted to pass around the body beneath the arms, and is provided with the straps and buckles a, that iirnily secure the same to the body of the wearer. On opposite sides of the band-the front and back, according to the position in which the same is worn-are the iniiatable air-chambers B and C, which when filled give buoyance to the wearer. Between said airchambers and the portion that comes between the arms the band is reduced to a narrowed portion or neck D, between the walls of which is formed the air-passage E, communicating with both ot' the air-chambers and provides an additional chamber in itself which assists in the buoyance of the preserver.

Communicating with 011e of said air-chambers is the flexible air-,supply tube F, provided on its end with a valved nipple f and by means of which air is supplied to both chambers through the communicating passage.

It can be readilyT seen that the preserver can be easily iniiated, and when the air is withdrawn from the same it leaves it in a flattened condition that permits of its being worn without trouble or inconvenience when not used, and is applied to the body around the chest and fastened under the arms opposite the narrow portion or neck D of the band,thus placing the air-chambers in the front and back of the wearer, with the communicating passage under the arms, and providing by this construction and arrangement a device that while assisting to float a person at the same time allows a free movement of the arms.

The operation and construction of my pre` server are thought to be apparent without further description.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is-

A life-preserver composed of a single ilexible band adapted to be secured around the chest and under the arms of the wearer and providedV with separatedY and independent bulb air-chambers adapted to be inflated and expanded only on the back and in the front of the wearer, a reduced portion or neck between said chambers, and a narrow air-passage between the walls of said neck and communicatin g under the arms with the front and back air-chambers, substantially as specified. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CORLIN.

In presence of- A. B. CHENEY,

A. II. SAUE. 

